Cricket World Player Of The Week - Tillakaratne Dilshan

Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has been named as the Cricket World Player Of The Week after he led by example, scoring a brilliant 193 against England at Lord's.

After his side were unexpectedly beaten in the opening Test at Cardiff by an innings and 14 runs when they were dismissed for 82 on the final day, Sri Lanka were under pressure replying to England's 486.

Dilshan's survived two painful blows to the thumb to respond with the highest innings by a Sri Lankan at Lord's, passing the record set by Sidath Wettimuny in 1984 to put Sri Lanka on track to get close to, or even surpass England's score of 486.

His fine innings - his 12th Test century - included 20 fours and two sixes and a number of aggressive shots as Sri Lanka appeared to put their performance at Cardiff well and truly behind them.

None of the five England bowlers used managed to contain Dilshan, who faced just 253 deliveries, and it was not until Chris Tremlett - another contender for the weekly award - struck him a second blow on the thumb - that he appeared in any trouble.

Shortly after, he was bowled by Steven Finn and given a deserved standing ovation by the Lord's crowd as he fell seven runs short of a double-century.

Other players in consideration for the award this week included Graeme Swann for his part in England's Cardiff heroics, Paul Stirling, who scored a century in vain against Pakistan, and Darren Sammy who returned figures of four for 16 before India beat the West Indies in the Twenty20 Itnernational in Trinidad.